Fire Destroys Salisbury Firm, Warehouses

A fire fueled by gusty winds destroyed the Albrad Metal Co. Inc., and several adjoining warehouses in Salisbury Township yesterday afternoon as firefighters from three companies battled huge flames and thick, black smoke that billowed hundreds of feet above.

Firefighters arrived on the scene about 4:15 p.m. and fought the flames well into the evening. Winds caused the flames to shift as firefighters on all sides of the building fought hard to contain theblaze. The winds also blew glowing embers into nearby trees which firefighters rushed to put out.

The smoke, which fell like a black curtain over the residential area in the vicinity of Emmaus Avenue and and Albert Street, forced police to temporarily close sections of Cypress Avenue. Also closed to clear the way for emergency vehicles were sections of Emmaus Avenue and Wayne Avenue.

The Sheffield Apartments, which sit about 200 yards from the metal company and warehouses, were not threatened because the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. The Albrad shop sits by itself.

"We could see it (the fire) all the way from the south side of Allentown," said one spectator. Thousands of feet of hose were laid from hydrants on Albert Street and Cypress Avenue to the scene. Firefighters rotated air packs and battled the below freezing temperatures.

As evening fell, the one-level metal shop and adjoining warehouses, which sit off Wayne Avenue, became a crumbling inferno as cinder blocks and flaming wood broke apart and crashed to the ground. Several times firefighters rushed back from tumbling walls.

The metal shop took up one side of the building. The other side was divided into about four small warehouses, which stored cars, large appliances, tractors, snow plows, antique furniture and other items. Also in the building was the Lee Contracting Company.

There were reports that several propane tanks were inside, but Jim Morrissey, assistant Salisbury Township fire chief, said there were no explosions.

"Well, my $5,000 classic motorcycle just burned up," said Mark Hall, of 616 Wayne Ave., who rents one warehouse. He said he also lost about $8,000 worth of furniture. "My dad rents the warehouse near mine and in it he was storing antique furniture for auctions."

Hall said he's been renting the warehouse from Albrad for about two years. "I was home taking a shower getting ready for a business meeting and a neighbor called and told me there was a fire."

Hall said there was no electricity in his warehouse, but added that there was power in several of the others. While the fire raged, a crew from the Pennsylvania Power &Light Company arrived to shut electricity off.

Salisbury Police Officer Scott Gross said the metal shop is closed on Saturday. "When I came through on my first rounds at 3:15 p.m., everything was quiet," said Gross. Hall also said that on Saturdays the shop and warehouses are idle.

The three fire companies on the scene were Salisbury, Allentown and River Road. On standby were Fountain Hill and Western Salisbury. The Red Cross was also on the scene.